Suspension piece



July 12, 1966 Q sc w E 3,260,362

SUSPENSION PIECE Filed May 24, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG-I FIG.4

INVENTOR CARL EDWARD SCHWlNNE ATTORNEY July 12, 1966 c. E. SCHWINNE SUSPENSION PIECE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 24, 1965 FIG.

INVENTOR CARL EDWARD SCHWINNE BY W ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,260,362 SUSPENSION PIECE Carl Edward Schwinne, Decatur, Ga, assignor to E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, Wilmington, Del.,

a corporation of Delaware Filed May 24, 1965, Ser. No. 458,492 6 Claims. (Cl. 206-59) This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Serial No. 287,280, filed June 12, 1963.

This invention relates to a roll suspension piece and more particularly to a one piece integrally molded plastic suspension piece used in shipping rolls of film.

Roll suspension pieces are employed by the film industry in the shipment of rolls of film to prevent damage to the film. The suspension piece consists of a plug which fits into the open core of the film roll and a flat sheet with dimensions larger than the roll attached to the core plug. Two of these suspension pieces are placed on either side of the film roll which is then inserted into a shipping carton or tubular container. Within the shipping container, the roll is suspended at the two ends which greatly reduces damage in shipment since the shocks and vibrations which take place in transit are absorbed by the two end pieces instead of the roll of film. These suspension pieces have been constructed of a metal core plug with a wood or hardboard or cardboard backing piece. The present invention replaces this backing piece with a plastic piece with a greatly improved versatility.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an improved, plastic, molded suspension piece.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved plastic suspension piece which possesses the required strength using the least amount of molding material.

It is another object to provide a molded suspension piece which is low in cost and which weighs significantly less than structures presently being used. These and other objects will appear hereinafter.

The suspension structure of the present invention generally comprises a single unit, molded suspension piece consisting of a hub portion which fits inside of the film roll and which hub is integrally attached to a flattened backing piece, the outer periphery of which is essentially octagonal in shape. The piece has openings in its face so that weight and material cost are reduced. For added strength the flattened portion and the hub have been reinforced with ribs which are an intricate part of the molded product. The essentially octagonal periphery of one of the suspension pieces is designed so that a roll can be shipped in either a square carton or a tubular container with 50% of the suspension piece being in contact with the sides of the shipping container regardless of its shape. Another embodiment of the suspension piece is used with large rolls of film and needs to be strongly reinforced. In this embodiment, the suspension piece is designed to that the four opposite sides are strongly supported and no matter which side a square shipping carton is placed, the suspension piece will hold the weight of the film roll. The invention can be more fully understood by referring to the following drawings.

The objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the same is more fully understood from the following description, which, taken in connect-ion with the accompanying drawings, discloses preferred embodiments of the invention wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a front plan view of one plastic suspension piece according to the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line IIII in FIGURE 1 illustrating the construction of the radial supports.

3,260,362 Patented July 12,1966

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IIIIII in FIGURE 1 illustrating the structure of the outer edge of the piece.

FIGURE 4 is a half-sectional view taken along line IVIV in FIGURE 1 illustrating a side view of the structure.

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines VV in FIGURE 1 illustrating the construction of the hub assembly.

FIGURE 6 is a front plan view of a second suspension piece according to the present invention.

FIGURE 7 is .a cross-sectional view taken along a line VII-VII of FIGURE 6 illustrating a side view of the structure.

FIGURE 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line VIIIVIII of FIGURE 6 illustrating the construction of the radial supports.

As shown in the drawings, the piece consists of an outer periphery channel-like portion generally indicated as 1 which is essentially octagonal in shape, a hub portion 9 and radial supports 5, extending from the hub to the periphery portion.

As shown in FIGURE 1, the outer periphery channel structure 1 of one embodiment of the present invention is essentially octagonal in shape with opposite opposing diagonal sides being rounded in nature and the remaining sides being essentially flat. The reinforced construction of the outer periphery is shown in FIGURE 3, which shows a channel-like structure which consists of an inner reinforcing rib member 3, a fiat bottom portion 2 and the outer rib structure 4 of periphery channel 1. Fillet 8 connects rib member 3 and radial rib member 7.

FIGURE 2 illustrates the construction of radial support member 5 essentially in the form of a channel which consists of a flattened portion 6 and two radial rib supports 7. Fillets 8 and 10 reinforce the plastic piece at the junction of the outer periphery rib support member 3 and radial rib support member 7. Fillet 10 is an extension of rib member 3 and extends at a 45 angle from rib 3 to the top of radial rib member 7. Fillet 8 lies in the same plane as channel bottom 2 and is completely blended into rib 3 and radial rib 7. Openings 11 are left in the plastic piece to reduce material cost and lighten the piece.

In FIGURES 1 and 5, projecting ribs 12 are positioned on the outer circumference of the hub 9 so that when the piece is placed inside the film roll core the piece will not rotate but hold the roll stationary. The inner ribs 13, which are an integral part of the radial supports, give added strength to the hub assembly and are extensions into the hub 5 of the radial rib members 7. Obviously, when a piece is placed in use a sheer force exists between the flat disc-like outer part of the piece and the hub assembly, and consequently reinforcement at this point is required.

In FIGURE 5, an optional recess 14 is illustrated which is located adjacent to the hub assembly in flange 15. This recess is used when the core on which the film is wound and which extends slightly over the edge of the film can be firmly positioned in this recess.

In the embodiment shown in FIGURES 6 to 8, the outer periphery channel structure 20 is octagonal in shape with four opposite support sides. The reinforced con struction of the outer periphery is shown in FIGURES 6 and 7, which shows a channel-like structure which consists of an inner reinforcing rib member 21, a fiat bottom portion 22 and the outer rib structure 23. At the diagonally opposite unsupported sides, inner rib 21 does not extend to the full thickness (see cross-section in FIG- URE 6).

Radial support members 24 are generally in the form of an S-shaped channel which consists of flattened por- 3 tions 25, an intermediate raised portion 26 with ribs 30 and 31 and two outer ribs 27. Tapered ribs 28 and 29 are extensions of and slope up from ribs 27 to inner rib 21 and outer rib 23 respectively of outer periphery 20. If more strength is required, these tapered ribs can extend at a smaller angle, which means that the slope would start nearer the hub 34. Fillets 32 reinforce the plastic piece at the junction of the outer periphery reinforcing rib 21 and outer rib 27 of radial support member 24 and 'lie in the same plane as outer channel bottom 22. As in the embodiment shown in FIGURES l to 5, openings 33 are left in the plastic piece to reduce material cost and lighten the piece.

Projecting ribs 35 are positioned on the outer circumference of the hub 34 so that the piece will not rotate when placed inside the film roll core. The inner ribs 36 give added strength to the hub assembly and are extensions in the same plane as radial support ribs 30 and 31. An optional recess 37 is also provided for the second embodiment.

The plastic piece is made by a standard injection molding process and any resin which can be injection molded and has adequate strength can be employed. High density polyethylene is the preferred resin; however, polypropylene, high impact polystyrene, nylon and polyester resins can also be used.

This plastic piece has many advantages over the presently used conventional wood-hardboard-cardboard-metal pieces. The plastic support eliminates contamination of the film roll because the plastic piece does not shred, tear, or pulverize during shipment as do the fibrous based materials previously used. Obviously, the fibers would contaminate the film roll and in some industries make the film almost useless. For instance, the magnetic tape and film-metalizing industries require a polyester film which is free from any contaimination. Also, the plastic piece reduces the weight of the package since the piece weighs approximately 80% less than the standard wood, hardboard, metal pieces. The plastic piece adds an improved aesthetic value to the film roll, since the general appearance of the slit film roll is greatly improved when opening the carton. Also, the piece because of the appearance and the fact that the piece does not contaminate due to linting and dusting, allows certain industries which require dust-free conditions to use it as a support once the roll has been removed from the shipping container. Presently, the fibrous material pieces are discarded by the consumer at the receiving room. Obviously, the plastic piece of this invention is safer to use than the wood-hardboard-metal pieces since there are no sharp corners, protrusions, nails or rivets present. With this plastic piece it has also been possible to have a wider bearing area on the edge of the piece which improves stacking of the suspended roll.

When considering the structure of the plastic suspension piece, it is evident that it would be desirable to mold one piece instead of using a core plug attached to a flat sheet as had been previously used. This would elimi- 4 nate cementing, gluing, or fastening of the core plug to the flat sheet.

What is claimed is:

1. A suspension piece comprising: a flanged hub having a hollow central portion; ribs internally reinforcing said hub; an essentially octagonal, rib reinforced outer periphery section; radial, rib reinforced support members attached to and extending between said hub and said octagonal periphery, said suspension piece being one piece, integrally molded plastic.

2. A one piece integrally molded plastic suspension piece comprising: a flanged hub having a hollow central portion and internally reinforced with ribs, said flange having a recess portion on the under surface adjacent the hub; an essentially octagonal, rib reinforced outer periphery section having four flat opposite sides and four rounded diagonally opposite sides and radial, rib reinforced support members attached to and extending between said flanged hub and the center of each side of said octagonal periphery, the ribs of said hub and the ribs of said support members being integrally connected.

3. A one piece integrally molded plastic suspension piece for film rolls comprising: a circular hub having a hollow central portion; ribs positioned on the outer surface of said hub which keep said film roll from turning on said hub; a flange extending outward from one end of said hub, said flange having a recess portion on the under surface adjacent the hub; an essentially octagonal channel-shaped outer periphery section, said periphery section having four flat opposite sides and four rounded diagonally opposite sides; channel-shaped radial support members extending from the flange end of said hub to the center of each side of said outer periphery section; reinforcing ribs on the interior of said hub integral with the sides of said radial support members and fillets positioned on the sides of said radial support members and connecting and reinforcing said members to said flange and to said outer periphery section.

4. A one piece integrally molded plastic suspension piece for film rolls comprising: a circular hub having a hollow central portion; ribs positioned onthe outer surface of said hub which keep said film roll from turning on said hub; a flange extending outward from one end of said hub, said flange having a recess portion on the under surface adjacent the hub; an octagonal rib reinforced outer periphery section; essentially S-shaped radial support members extending from the flange end of said hub to the four opposite sides of said outer periphery section and reinforcing ribs on the interior of said hub.

5. The suspension piece of claim 1 wherein the hub flange has a recess on the under surface adjacent the hub.

6. The suspension piece of claim 1 wherein said hub has ribs positioned on the outer surface.

No references cited.

LOUIS G. MANCENE, Primary Examiner 

3. A ONE PIECE INTEGRALLY MOLDED PLASTIC SUSPENSION PIECE FOR FILM ROLLS COMPRISING: A CIRCULAR HUB HAVING A HOLLOW CENTER PORTION; RIBS POSITIONED ON THE OUTER SURFACE OF SAID HUB WHICH KEEP SAID FILM ROLL FROM TURNING ON SAID HUB; A FLANGE EXTENDING OUTWARD FROM ONE END OF SAID HUB, SAID FLANGE HAVING A RECESS PORTION ON THE UNDER SURFACE ADJACENT THE HUB; AN ESSENTIALLY OCTAGONAL CHANNEL-SHAPED OUTER PERIPHERY SECTION, SAID PERIPHERY SECTION HAVING FOUR FLAT OPPOSITE SIDES AND FOUR ROUNDED DIAGONALLY OPPOSITE SIDES; CHANNEL-SHAPED RADIAL SUPPORT MEMBERS EXTENDING FROM THE FLANGE END OF SAID HUB TO THE CENTER OF EACH SIDE OF SAID OUTER PERIPHERY SECTION; REINFORCING RIBS ON THE INTERIOR OF SAID HUB INTEGRAL WITH THE SIDES OF SAID RADIAL SUPPORT MEMBERS AND FILLETS POSITIONED ON THE SIDES OF SAID RAIDAL SUPPORT MEMBERS AND CONNECTING AND REINFORCING SAID MEMBERS TO SAID FLANGE AND TO SAID OUTER PERIPHERY SECTION. 